Martinez to return?
Lisandro Martinez has had multiple training sessions this week and has started in 14 of United's 15 Premier League matches. Victor Lindelof was unwell in midweek and Harry Maguire on the bench, so there is no obvious reason why Varane and Martinez cannot reunite against Wolves.
Varane and Martinez have not started together since the draw with Chelsea on October 22 and United have not lost with the duo on the pitch.
Back up to fourth?
United this week made up ground on Tottenham, who drew at Brentford on Boxing Day, and victory today would elevate them to fourth for the first time this season. United last sat in fourth in March.
Also read: Ten Hag 'happy' about Casemiro decision
Spurs do not play until Aston Villa visit on Sunday and a United win would apply added pressure on Antonio Conte's side to reclaim fourth.
Minimum changes?
Bar Diogo Dalot, United could play their strongest team at Wolves now Martinez is back. Erik ten Hag reminded those present in the Old Trafford press conference room on Tuesday he had only started the attacking quartet of Bruno Fernandes, Antony, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial once at Everton prior to the stroll against Nottingham Forest.
Varane, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen are three vertebrae Ten Hag cannot take out of the spine just yet. Diogo Dalot has also resumed training, affording Ten Hag the opportunity to select his strongest XI.
Wearying weeks
Wolves could be the first of 10 games in four weeks for United. Should United advance to the FA Cup fourth round via a replay against Everton and overcome Charlton in their League Cup quarter-final they will have nine matches in January.
The upside for United is they have an appealing run of fixtures prior to City's visit in the Manchester derby in a fortnight. Wolves away is a tougher test before home games against Bournemouth (14th), Everton (17th) and Charlton (18th in League One).
Molineux test
Mercifully, there have been 362 days since United and Wolves last met. They played each other three times in the first 32 days of 2020 and there were six goalless halves out of eight between them that calendar year.
United were extremely fortunate to beat Wolves at Molineux at the start of last term and Wolves were worthy winners in the reverse fixture, inflicting a first defeat on Ralf Rangnick. In the 11 games between the sides since Wolves were promoted in 2018, the seven that did not end in stalemates were decided by one goal.
This is the weakest Wolves have been during that period but they have already enjoyed a managerial bounce from Julen Lopetegui. United know from last month's experience at Aston Villa not to underestimate a fresh presence in the home dugout and Molineux is one of the top flight's more atmospheric grounds.
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